Ghost Planets

Ghost Planets is an alternate aesthetic and information representation for viewing the radial velocity of exoplanets.

The data visualization is generated using the mathematical formula that represents the wobble of our own star. The wobble of a star is due to the gravitational pull of its orbiting planets. It is the phenomenon that allows astrophysicists to detect exoplanets orbiting around distant starts, despite the inability to image them. The formula, and the visual representation is played out such that we see the exaggerated wobble of our Sun, played out over 1000 years.

It was featured in the 2014 gallery show of MIT’s Art of Astrophysics competition.